The Rolleston Community

Rolleston is the largest town in Selwyn and the seat of the district council, sitting on the Canterbury Plains 22 km south-west of Christchurch. It began in 1866 as a railway junction, where the Midland Line to the West Coast branches off the Main South Line. In the early 1970s Prime Minister Norman Kirk called it the "town of the future", and he was right: about 2,800 people lived here in 2001, and by June 2025 the town had grown to 34,100.

New Zealand's Fastest-Growing District

Selwyn was the fastest-growing district in the country in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. Its population grew 29% between the 2018 and 2023 censuses and reached 87,600 by June 2025. Most new residents move out from Christchurch for newer homes, bigger sections and an easy commute. Rolleston is also a major employment centre in its own right, with two inland freight ports and a growing retail and industrial base.

Low Deprivation, Strong Households

On the 2023 New Zealand Deprivation Index, more than half of Selwyn's residents live in the country's least deprived areas (deciles 1 and 2). Queenstown-Lakes is the only other district that can say the same.

Safe Neighbourhoods

Selwyn consistently records the lowest per-capita crime rate in New Zealand, most recently in national rankings published in March 2026. In an earlier analysis, Selwyn's crime rate was about one fifth of the highest-ranked district. For locals, that means a centre where people are comfortable spending time, bringing the kids and staying for a coffee.

Your Local Centre

Rolleston Square spans two sites, RS East at 9 Masefield Drive and RS West at 70 Rolleston Drive, with more than 40 shops, eateries, gyms, health providers and services. You'll find The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, ASB, BNZ, Chemist Warehouse, Rolleston Central Health and Plus Fitness alongside local favourites like Rolleston Bakery and Coriander's. There are bus stops, EV charging and a chlorine-free water station on site, and Bookarama donation bins just inside The Warehouse. Check out our Community page for more projects that we support and that you can be part of.

Proudly Part of Selwyn

Rolleston has changed a lot in a short time, and Rolleston Square has grown with it. We're proud to serve one of the country's safest, fastest-growing communities, and we're committed to being a place where locals can shop, meet up and support the businesses that make this town what it is.